The Maxol-sponsored Carrick 1st XV got their fourth League win of the season on Saturday 12 February when they, perhaps unexpectedly, overcame a determined Omagh side by 34 points to 18 at Woodlawn. Carrick put in an excellent first half performance into a stiff breeze and out-scored the visitors by two tries to one. While some of their defensive problems threatened to re-emerge on occasions in the second half, they held on well when Omagh had them under great pressure and then ran in two tries in injury time to put the issue beyond doubt. There were good performances all round, with the back row of Neil Marsden, Craig Patterson and Andy McKeen doing well at the break-down and with ball in hand. Marsden deservedly won the man of the match award. For the most part, the mid-field defence was strong with Jason Wady and David Kirkpatrick putting in some big tackles ; the problems in the second half were of alignment and not committment. In attack, Wady, Aaron Mckinney and Daryll Crothers found gaps in the Omagh defence on a number of occasions. There was another committed performance, both in tackling and ball-carrying, from the front row of Paul Greenaway, Richard Higgins and David McKeen. The scrum was solid and Stuart Currie and Chris Ferris provided a good service from the line-out.
Carrick got off to a great start when, after just two minutes, a wheeled scrum gave Andy McKeen the opportunity to set off on a strong run into the heart of the Omagh defence; Daryll Crothers carried the move into the visitors 22 and, when the ball was re-cycled, Neil Marsden forced his way over. Kris James added the conversion points. With Carrick doing well to deny Omagh any territorial advantage from the strong breeze, the visitors opportunities were limited but they did put over a penalty in the sevententh minute. Five minutes later, however, the home side extended their lead with a try from Daryll Crothers. This came from another good Carrick scrum in their own half and a well-timed pass from Glen Picken to Aaron McKinney put the full-back through a gap and he fed Crothers for the run to the line. Again, Kris James added the points. Carrick continued to press into the breeze but it was Omagh who got the next score on the stroke of half-time. From a line-out catch and drive, their scrum-half broke away and touched down in the corner. The try was not converted and Carrick led by 14 points to 8 at the break.
The home side increased their lead just five minutes into the second half when the Captain, Stuart Currie, went over following a catch and drive and an initial thrust by Andy McKeen. Glen Picken, who had taken over the kicking duties from an injured Kris James, put over the conversion. The visitors then began to assert themselves and, for much of the remainder of the half, enjoyed the better of territory and possession. After fifteen minutes of the half, they got a deserved try when they broke through the Carrick defence on half-way and one of their centres went clear to touch down near the posts. The try was converted to make the score 21 points to 15 in carrick’s favour. The visitors further reduced the deficit with a penalty ten minutes later but Carrick held out against their determined efforts to score and eventually increased their lead with a Glen Picken penalty in the first minute of injury time. Then in the fifth added minute, a break by McKinney following a scrum put Karl Quinn over in the corner. The try was not converted but the hosts got another try in the dying seconds when Chris Ferris went over following a strong run by Andy McKeen. Again, the try was not converted and Carrick ran out winners by 34 points to 18. This was a perhaps flattering margin of victory in the end, with two tries coming in injury time, but there is no doubt that Carrick deserved their victory because of their dominance up front , their defensive work in the second half in particular and their ability to take the chances which came their way.
The Carrick team was:
A. McKinney; D. Crothers, J. Wady, D. Kirkpatrick, K. Quinn; K. James, G. Picken; D. McKeen, R. Higgins, P. Greenaway, S. Currie(Capt), C. Ferris, N. Marsden, C. Patterson, A. McKeen.
The Carrick 2nd XV also played host to Omagh on Saturday and ran out winners by 32 points to 23. The tries came from Brian Alexander, Mark Anderson, Robbie Williams, Johnny Sheriff and Craig Clarke. Ricky Moore kicked a penalty and two conversions. “Man of the Match” was Robbie Williams.
The 3rd XV defeated Ophir II by 43 points to 5. The tries came from Lewis Inch, Jamesy Porter, David Ferris, who converted four, and Chris Rogers who collected his second hat-trick in two weeks along with the “man of the match” award.
The 5th XV beat PSNI II by 14 points to 10. The tries came from Kirk MacEwan and Robert Hawkins, with Karl Wilkinson converting both.
The Under 19s lost by 15 points to 7 away to Randalstown in a friendly. The Under 17s lost by 13 points to 5 away to Clogher Valley but the Under 15s beat the same Club by 29 points to 5.
Last Sunday, the Ladies defeated Cavan by 5 points to nil in the semi-final of the Rosie Stewart Cup. Lauryn Arthur got the winning try which puts the team into the final against City of Derry.
Fixtures for Saturday 19 February are:
1st XV vs UUC, home
2nd XV vs Enniskillen II, away
5th XV vs Omagh or Rainey in McCambley Cup, away
Under 15s at home, opponents not yet known
Minis- Ballyclare, away
